Energy Efficiency Solar Water Healthier Homes Awards & Recognitions Sustainability Report
We believe that a sustainably built KB home is a better home. Better for our homebuyers because it offers contemporary design, comfort and potentially lower utility bills and is uniquely personalized for them. Better for the environment because it uses the latest sustainable products, materials and techniques, is energy and water efficient, utilizes fewer resources in its construction and operation than conventional homes and prioritizes responsibly sourced materials. Better for our business because it offers a product designed for the future even as it meets the needs of today’s homebuyers.
Since we first determined 18 years ago that energy efficiency would be the basis for our environmental sustainability efforts, we have led the way to implement these ideals — it’s the right choice for our customers, the environment and our business. We strive to bring sustainability to production homebuilding, set the standard for innovation within our industry, and consistently demonstrate that an energy-efficient new home can also be a better home.
ENERGY STAR® certification is the foundation for our energy-efficiency commitment and has been since 2008, when we became the first national homebuilder to make a broad commitment to building ENERGY STAR certified homes.
We’re proud to have one of the lowest, and therefore most efficient, publicly reported national average HERS® (Home Energy Rating System) score among large production homebuilders. Additionally, our national average HERS score of 45 in 2024 was an impressive 10 points below the 55 average for all HERS-rated homes in the U.S.
We built our first solar home in 2005 and introduced our first all-solar communities in 2011, taking an early leadership position in our industry on the importance of renewable energy.
To make renewable solar energy more attainable, we offer homebuyers both leasing and mortgage financing options for solar power systems. We have also recently added higher efficiency panels that generate more power using the same roof space.
THE NUMBERS ADD UP
Water conservation has long been a critical issue for housing, and for nearly 20 years, we have been building water-efficient homes to address this concern. In many areas where we build, particularly our West Coast and Southwest regions, periodic drought conditions have become a way of life, making conservation essential.
We consider water a fundamental human right. As many areas throughout the country experience an increasing frequency, intensity and duration of drought-related events, building water-efficient homes can help preserve this vital natural resource and help save our homeowners on utility costs.
We believe that building a healthier home is an important part of providing a sustainable, better home. We also recognize that a home is more than a physical structure; it is often the core of personal wellness, social connection and financial resilience, a place where we can rest and recharge.
To support the wellness of our homeowners, our homes are designed to offer a broad set of health-related benefits compared to other new or resale homes. These homes contribute to improved indoor air quality through the implementation of advanced ventilation systems that continuously introduce fresh, filtered air, the selection of building materials with minimal chemical emissions, and comprehensive strategies to control moisture and prevent mold growth. Ultimately, by prioritizing these aspects of construction, these homes are designed to support the overall well-being of the occupants, creating spaces that are not only comfortable but also conducive to good health.
In 2024 and early 2025, we were recognized for our environmental leadership by a number of organizations, including:
2024 EPA ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year — Sustained Excellence Award
Our 14th consecutive award for demonstrating leadership in energy-efficient construction and the only national homebuilder to receive this honor.
2024 EPA ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Market Leader Awards
A record 30 awards in all, one in each of our primary markets nationwide, recognizing our excellence in energy-efficient homebuilding.
2024 EPA WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award
Our 10th consecutive award for achievement in constructing water-efficient homes, and our 14th consecutive year recognized by WaterSense.
2025 RESNET Cross Border Challenge Award
Our 8th recognition by RESNET for achieving the best HERS or HERS H2O score among American and Canadian homebuilders.
At KB Home, we believe that sustainability is built on one essential idea: balance. We strive to ensure that today’s buyers can achieve the dream of homeownership while balancing that objective with mindfulness about the sustainability needs of future generations and our environment. Sustaining the dream of homeownership both today and into the future is what we do every day.
This year, we published our 18th annual Sustainability Report, the longest-running publication of its kind in the homebuilding industry. We invite you to learn about what matters to us and to join us on our journey. We encourage you to review our previous 17 sustainability reports to learn more about our consistent, long-term approach and all of the work that lies behind our 2024 sustainability results.